Hispanic National Bar Association Statement on State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) is encouraged by President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address, in which he addressed issues of great importance to our membership and the Hispanic community at large, namely the economy, immigration and judicial nominations.

"We are heartened by the President's continued support and dedication to advancing comprehensive immigration reform, the DREAM Act, support of veterans, and addressing the excessive cost of higher education. We also appreciate his recognition of the existing vacancy crisis in the federal judiciary, which directly impacts individuals' basic right to have access to justice," said Benny Agosto, Jr., HNBA National President.

While the HNBA stands behind the President's dedication to addressing the economic crisis and ensuring that Latinos and all Americans have the necessary education and job security needed to fulfill the promise of America, we are committed to continuing to press the administration and Congress on issues critical to fulfilling this vision. Specifically, we will continue to press for passage of comprehensive immigration reform, ensure that all Latinos have equal access to quality education at all levels, and guarantee that all Americans have access to a fair hearing in court in a timely manner.

"The President should be commended for the unparalleled strides that he has made in diversifying the bench and his administration. But more work remains to be done, and we hope that he and the U.S. Senate hasten the pace of nominating and confirming appointees," added the Honorable Celeste Villarreal, HNBA Vice President of External Affairs.

About the Hispanic National Bar AssociationThe Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) is an incorporated, not-for-profit, national membership organization that represents the interests of the more than 100,000 Hispanic attorneys, judges, law professors, legal assistants, and law students in the United States and its territories. From the days of its founding four decades ago, the HNBA has acted as a force for positive change within the legal profession. It does so by encouraging Latino students to choose a career in the law and by prompting their advancement within the profession once they graduate and start practicing. Through a combination of issue advocacy, programmatic activities, networking events and educational conferences, the HNBA has helped generations of lawyers succeed.